Signaling apparatus for aerial navigation.



Y R. A. FESSENDEN. SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. II. I909.

LWJQI. I Patented 0st. 26, 1915.

FIBI.

ifiizou II II WITNESSES: INVENTOR MKS/M I II- REGINALD A. FESSENDEN, OF BRANT ROCK, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY IVIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO SAMUEL M. KINTNER, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AND HALSEY M. BARRETT, OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY, RECEIVERS.

SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Uct. 2 8, 1915.

Application filed February 11, 1909. Serial No. 477,283.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, REGINALD A. FEssnN- DEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brant Rock, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Signaling Apparatus for Aerial Nav gation, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates primarily to aerlal navigation, and to art of signaling by means of electromagnetic waves. Its primary objects are to accomplish efficient communication between moving bodies such as balloons and flying machines and other stations s tuated either on the earth or on other moving vehicles.

I have illustrated the invention as applied to a flying machine proper to enable it to communicate with the shore or ships or other flying machines. 0

In the drawing Figure 1 represents in diagram an aerial of the general type of the aeroplane shown in perspective with parts removed, and my apparatus applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view with a modification of the apparatus to be described. I y

. Heretofore vessels for aerial navigation have in actual practice had no means of communicating with each other or with stations on the earth or sea; and in some cases where it has been merely suggested to use wireless telegraphy for the purpose, it has been proposed to employ antennae in the form of wires suspended from the vessel, Such suggestion is impracticable, because the suspended wires would be a serious obstacle to flight, would be ineflicient, would add to the weight of the vessel, and would be dangerous in many ways. Moreover, waves generated by such a vertical antenna would be radiated symmetrically around a vertical axis and could be received indifferently in all directions within range. I overcome such difliculties and gain other ad vantages by substituting for such antenna two extended surfaces of conducting material arranged horizontally so as to form the two capacities of a horizontal antenna. By making these capacities of sheets of aluminum foil for example, they may be applied closely to the structure of a vessel, as on balloons or aeroplanes, and thus I not only overcome the disadvantage of trailing antennae, but I avoid adding any appreciable weight, and avoid introducing additional resistance to movement through the air. Incidentally the use of such metallic foil performs an additional useful function as it may be pasted over open mesh cloth or metallic netting and prevent air leakage.

An additional advantage is gained by the ability to place the capacity surfaces in a horizontal or in any other desired plane and thus give directive effect to the messages, so that a scout could communicate with his own camp without sending signals in the enemys direction. This function is also gained in some modifications by the use of similar sheets of conducting material on other parts of the vessel to be used as re flectors, so as to screen the direction to or frctim which it is not desired to communica e.

As arranged for example in Fig. 1, which represents such a machine as the Wright aeroplane, the main supporting planes are 4 and 5, which are usually of stretched canvas for example: On this, placed to the right and left of the machine, I provide surfaces of metal such as tin or aluminum foil, marked 6 and 7, preferably placed on the lower surface of the upper plane and at the extreme outer limits thereof. From these surfaces, conductors 8 and 9 are run to the signaling instruments, which are here shown for simplicity as a spark gap 10 and a receiver 11, which may be interchanged in the usual way by means'of a switch 11. In sending or receiving the metallic surfaces 6 and 7 form two capacities having the funct ons of an ordinary antenna, and made to either radiate or receive waves. It is important to note that these surfaces may be horlzontal or otherwise directive and no waves will be generated in a line lying in the plane of the surfaces.

In Fig. 2, I show the same apparatus as in Fig. 1, and in addition I provide on the upper surface of the lower plane 5, a pair of extended conductors 12, 13, placed to the right and left respectively and having conductors 14 and 15 running from them to a switch 16 placed conveniently for the operator, so that he can use these surfaces by closing the switch, or cut them out when not desired. Such auxiliary reflector surfaces may also be conveniently mounted on a balloon and movable for purposes of shieldillustrated its use, what I claim as new and ing or directing the waves for communication.

It will be observed that by the means described, I make use of a part of the machine itself'for the purpose of receiving and sending waves and avoid all the'disadvantages of an antenna, besides being able to direct the waves sent out or to shield the receiving apparatus either on the vessel or on other vessels by reason of the determinate positionof the radiating surfaces and shields. The navigator can therefore send to several stations on his own side of the protecting shield and yet entirely prevent signals bein sent in undesired directions.

aving thus described my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. A free aerial vessel having a plurality of capacity areas adapted to receive and radiate electromagnetic waves, in combination with devices on the vessel to generateelectromagnetic waves and signal receiving apparatus, substantially as described.

2. Apparatus for communicating by electromagnetic waves to and from free aerial vessels, comprising a radiating and receiving device in the form of several connected conducting surfaces mounted on the vessel in planes lying in the direction of motion there-- a of so as to form cooperatively a capacity thereon, substantially as described.

3. Apparatus for communication by electromagnetic waves from aerial vessels com- 7 prising two conducting surfaces, arranged-in a substantially horizontal plane and attached to non-conducting surfaces forming a part of the vessel, for the purposes described.

4. Apparatus for communicating by wireless telegraphy from flying machines of the aeroplane type, comprising. two separate conducting surfaces attached on the planes of the machine to form a radiator or receiver of waves.

telegraphy, comprising the combination with an aeroplane, of. several conducting surfaces arranged on the planes of the machine to form a radiator.

.6. Apparatus for wireless telegraphy, comprising the combination with an aeroplane, of sheets of metallic foil spaced apart and pasted on a plane of the machine and connected receiving and sending instruments, substantially as described.

7. An aeroplane provided with a radiator for electromagnetic waves formin part of the machine and means to shield the radiator. r

8. An aeroplanehaving metallic surfaces on'its planes arranged to radiate electromagnetic waves, substantially as described.

9. An aeroplane ha on one of its planes two connected sheets of metallic foil and wireless signaling apparatus connected the non-conductmg bearing surfaces forming parts of the aerial vessel.

11. -Means for electric signaling from a free aerial vessel comprising an electrical oscillator having both of its capacity surfaces attached to said vessel and at the same time formin part of "the vessels necessary structure, su stantially as described.

12. A vessel for aerial navigation adapted for occupying any desired position with respect to the horizontal, provided with radio signaling apparatus and such apparatus including radiating surfaces and absorbing surfaces in plurality and so spaced apart that the radiator may be shielded from any particular locality on theground, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I- have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two subscribed witnesses.

REGINALD A. FESSENDEN.

Witnesses:

Jnssm E. BENT, FLoREncE'M. LYON. 

